Telephone coin-box.



c. A. STICKNEY. TELEPHONE COIN BOX.

APPLICATION FILED M.\.Y15,19I6.

Patented Jan. 22, 1912;

I linir/ A 741/1Frill/5491151451 CHARLES A. STICKNEY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

"' TELEPHONE com-Box.

trol of the coin until the connection called for by him is completed.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a telephone coin boxmeans whereby the coin is deposited by the central otlice, the controlbeing either manual or automatic, but the return of the coin is entirelyunder control of the local station.

lVith these and incidental objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction and combination of parts, theessential elements of which are hereinafter described with reference tothe drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a schematic view of the circuit of myimproved coin box, Fig. 2 being a front elevation with the coverremoved. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line A A, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is asection taken on the line B B, Fig. 2.

The coin deposited by the subscriber in the slot 1, Fig. 3, passes inthe coin chute 2, Figs. 2 and 3, to the position shown at 3.

The armature 4, Fig. 3, carries thereon a pin 5, solidly mounted in thearmature in any suitable manner, a pin 6, horizontally pivoted in thearmature, and a pin 7 carried by the punching 8, which is insulated fromthe armature and is brought out to the circuit by the terminal 9.

The closing of the contact between the pins 6 and 7 is adapted to set upcertain circuit conditions, as will hereinafter be more fully explained.

A pair of coils 1O polarized by the permanent magnet 11 and mounted inany suitable manner to the frame is adapted to tilt the armature one wayor the other, depending upon the direction of the current flowingtherein, and when the armature is tilted to the left, as shown in Fig.3, the coin will be deposited through the chute 11 to the coin box 12,Fig. 2, while if it is tipped to the right, as shown in Fig. 3,- thecoin will pass Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

" Application filed May 15, 1916. Serial No. 9168b}.

' through the returning chute 13, Fig. 2, and

be received in the finger 14, Figs. 2 and 3, where the subscriber mayreceive it.

The coils 10 are so wound that they will not operate on 2st voltsapplied to the line at central exchange, or whatever the voltage may beon the exchange system, but will operate with 110 volts direct currentfrom the exchange.

The returning coil 15, Fig. 3, operates on the upper part of thearmature when actuated, drawing the armature right-handedly, as shown inFig. 3, to restore the coin through the finger 1a, as already described.

The line wire 16, Fig. 1, passes through a switch hook contact 17,through wire 18 to the returning coil 15, wire 19, pins 7 and 6, whenthe coin is carried by the pins 5 and 6 at 3, through the frame of thebox to the ground at 20, and this coil is adapted to actuate thereturning mechanism through the ordinary line current, hence the coinwill always pass through the box to the returning finger 14 if theswitch hook contact 17 is closed, and if after the subscriber hasremoved his receiver and made the call in the ordinary manner he decidesnot to wait for the connection and hangs his receiver back on the hookthe coin will be immediately returned to him.

However, if by any means, mechanical or automatic, 110 volt current ofproper polarity is sent through depositing coils 10, the coin will bedeposited in the coin box 12, and of course will then be out of thecontrol of the subscriber.

If means are provided at the central office for sending two polaritiesof 110 volt current the coin could be returned to the subscriber by theoperator without his hanging his receiver upon the hook, but I prefer touse with this box a circuit. similar to the one shown in my co-pendingapplication No. 97,680-1, filed May 15, 1916, for improvements intelephone exchange apparatus. wherein the depositing and returning ofthecoin is entirely out of control of the operator, and with this boxthe depositing would depend entirely upon the completion of the connection, while the returning; would depend upon the hanging up of thesubscriber at any time before the connection had been completed.

It is of course evident that the same result might be obtained through amechanical connection between the switch hook and the returningarmature, but this would manifestly be witl'i'in the scope of myinvention, as I believe myself to be the first to devise means torreturning a 00111 to the subscriber at any time he desires before it isdeposited, in comin man wa s within the 500 )e of the following claims.

Claims 1. In a telephone coin box associated with a telephone having aswitch hook and electrically connected with a central excha iige, thecombination of a money box, a' coin chute, an armature pivoted along oneaxis, pol arized electromagnetic means co-acting to oscillate saidarmature in either direction depending upon the direction of currentflow in said electromagnetic means non-polarized electromagnetic meansalso associated with said armatln'e and co-acting therewith to oscillatesaid armature in one direction only,

means on said armature for normally pre venting a coin from passing fromsaid coin chute and adapted to release such coin when said non-polarizedelectromagnetic coil is actuated.

2. In a telephone coin box associated with a telephone station havingtherein a switch hook contact and electrically connected with a centralofiice exchange, the combination of a coin chute, a money box, a returnfinger, an armature pivoted for oscillation in either direction,polarized electromagnetic means for oscillating said armature in eitherdirection, non-polarized electromagnetic means controllable by saidswitch hook contact for moving said armature in one direction, means onsaid armature for preventing the passing Of a coin from said. coin chutewhen said armature is normally positioned to release said coin forpassage to said return finger when said armature is actuated by saidnon-polarized electroniagnetie means.

CHARLES A. STIOKNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

.Washington, D. C.

